Vitamin D deficiency puts teenage health at risk

Baltimore, March 12: Extending beyond the well-pronounced role of strengthening bones and fabricating teeth, Vitamin D, popularly known as the sunshine vitamin, has an even more important health benefit – it snaps the risk of diabetes and heart disease, a new teenage study suggests.

While previous studies substantiate the link, the new study asserts that the damage begins early in life.

For the study, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore zeroed in on 3,577 adolescents aged 12 to 19 previously enrolled in National Health and Nutrition Examination survey from 2001–2004.

All participants underwent blood tests to determine levels of vitamin D in blood. Overall health of top 25 percent teenagers who recorded the highest levels of vitamin D in their blood (more than 26 ng/mL) was then compared to bottom 25 percent teens who recorded the lowest vitamin D levels (less than 15 ng/mL).

Researchers found that a coherent low vitamin D level increased the risk of metabolic syndrome fourfold; risk of high blood sugar 2.54 times; and risk of high blood pressure 2.36 times.

But the results of the study should be heeded with caution, notes study’s lead researcher Jared Reis of Johns Hopkins. He stated, "Although our study is important, we believe clinical trials designed to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the risk of heart disease risk factors in adolescents should be conducted before recommendations can be made for vitamin D in the prevention of cardiovascular disease."

Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, occurs naturally in oily fish and eggs. Also, foods such as milk, margarine, oil spreads, yogurt, breakfast cereal and bread are now being fortified to make them rich in vitamin D.

Vitamin D can be produced by the body upon exposure to sunlight. Though a 15 minute sun exposure is enough to achieve recommended levels, it should be practiced with caution as excessive sun exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancerdefine.

Another source of vitamin D – supplements - too should be taken with utmost care, researchers cautioned. An overdose of the vitamin may lead to abnormally high concentrations of calcium in blood, a condition medically known as hypercalcemia. The condition results in overcalcification of the bones, soft tissues, and kidneys. It can also cause irreversible kidney damage.

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association on Wednesday.